Method for the prevention of the unauthorized payments of funds

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for preventing the unauthorized payment of funds, comprising the steps of maintaining a customer authorization database capable of receiving and storing an authorization communication from an order-maker, receiving a payment request for a payment amount from a payee, evaluating the payment request by consulting the customer authorization database, and paying the payment amount to the payee if the step of evaluating results in a positive response. Additionally, the method can include the step of returning the payment request unpaid if the step of evaluating results in a negative response. Through this process, banking/lending institutions can verify authorization of payment from a customer, in an attempt to insure that all payments made out of the bank are free of fraud.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for preventing the unauthorized payment of funds, comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a customer authorization database capable of receiving and storing an authorization communication from an order-maker;    receiving a payment request for a payment amount from a payee;    evaluating the payment request by consulting the customer authorization database; and    paying the payment amount to the payee if the step of evaluating results in a positive response.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , additionally including the step of returning the payment request unpaid if the step of evaluating results in a negative response.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of receiving a payment request comprises receiving a payment request in the form of order paper and the step of returning the payment request unpaid includes the step of marking the order paper as not authorized for payment.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving the order paper payment request after the step of marking;    evaluating the payment request by consulting the customer authorization database; and    paying the payment amount to the payee if the step of evaluating results in a positive response.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , additionally including the step of remarking the order paper as payment not authorized if the step of evaluating results in a negative response.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of receiving a payment request in the form of order paper comprises receiving a payment request in the form of a check.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of receiving a payment request in the form of order paper comprises receiving a payment request in the form of a money order.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving a payment request comprises the step of receiving credit card authorizations for payment.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of evaluating the payment request comprises the step of comparing the payment request with a list of authorized payments contained within the customer authorization database.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the step of paying the payment if a positive response results comprises the step of paying the payment request if the payment request exactly matches one of the authorizations in the list of authorized payments.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the step of paying the payment request if a positive response results comprises the step of paying the payment request if the payee presenting the payment request is an automatically authorized payee.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of evaluating the payment request comprises the step of comparing the payment request with a list of authorized payment request ranges contained within the customer authorization database.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of paying the payment request if a positive response results comprises the step of paying the payment request if the payment request falls within the at least one of the payment request ranges contained within the customer authorization database.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of comparing the payment request with a list of authorized payment request ranges comprises the step of comparing the payment request with a list of authorized check numbers.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of comparing the payment request with a list of authorized payment request ranges comprises the step of comparing the payment request with a list of authorized payment dates.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of comparing the payment request with a list of authorized payment request ranges comprises the step of comparing the payment request with a list of authorized payment amounts.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of evaluating the payment request comprises the step of comparing the payment request with a history of payments made out of the customer's accounts.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of paying the payment amount to the payee if the step of evaluating results in a positive response comprises the step of paying the payment amount if no banking irregularities are found in the evaluating step.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , additionally comprising the step of following standard bank-fraud procedures if the step of banking irregularities are found in the evaluating step.